Old County Jail
Located in downtown Warsaw, Indiana, the Kosciusko County Old Jail was designed by George Garnsey and built by Richard Epperson in 1870. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and currently serves as the headquarters and museum for the Kosciusko County Historical Society. The jail served for 112 years as one of the state’s stoutest lock-ups. In the early days, the sheriff and his family lived in the same building with the sheriff’s wife providing the meals to the inmates.
Our hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
It now houses thousands of historical & nostalgic items from Kosciusko County. These items are displayed on the two floors of the jail including the cells and bullpens. Additional collections are displayed in the eight rooms of the three floors in the sheriff’s residence.
While touring the Old Jail Museum you will see:
- John Dillinger items (famous bank robber from the 1930’s that came through Warsaw)
- The Drummer Boy of Shiloh in the Civil War collection
- An old railroad watchman’s tower.
- Musical instruments in our music room.
- A copper bathtub in the sheriff’s bedroom
- Early orthopedic medical equipment
- A refrigerator from the 1930’s in the sheriff’s kitchen
- Old school and sports photos
- Military collections and uniforms
- Step into the solitary jail cell and see what punishment would have been like in jail.
Explore the Jail
Become a Member!
Memberships are available for the Kosciusko County Historical Society. We’d love to invite you to purchase a membership with us and learn about our history!